September 15, 2019
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1.  The Girls - âJeffrey I Hear Youâ (1979)
Soul Jazz Records just put out a compilation of music that was important and influential to artist Keith Haring. Lots of great early-80â˛s downtown New York punk/funk/new wave/etc. This was the first I had heard this song, by a group led by visual artist and Haring pal George Condo. Iâm a sucker for a one-chord song.
2.  The Wake - âOf The Matterâ (1985)
This was a Glasgow-based group that put out music on Factory Records, running in the same scene as New Order and the Durutti Column. Emotional and urgent, with some amazing synth and bass work.  Â
3.  Canyons - âWhen I See You Againâ (2011)
Canyons were a âproduction duoâ from Perth, Australia--about as close as one can get to the edge of the world. They put out one album, Keep Your Dreams, which this song comes from, that veered wildly from clattering electronic productions to more pop-inflected songs like this one, sung by former Sniff ânâ The Tears (a band I had never heard of previously) frontman Paul Roberts.
4.  Mood Rings - âPathos Y Lagrimasâ (2013)
Mood Rings were a dreamy Atlanta rock band that signed to Mexican Summer records, put out a really interesting album, VPI Harmony (from which this song comes), and then appears to have fizzled out.
5.  Seely - âSoft Cityâ (1997)
Another Atlanta band, from much earlier than Mood Rings. Started by two former Georgia Tech architecture students--Steven Satterfield (now chef-owner of Miller Union restaurant in Atlanta) and Lori Scacco (now a multi-disciplinary artist in New York). They were the first American band to sign to legendary UK post-rock label Too Pure, and recorded their second album with John McEntire from Tortoise and the Sea and Cake. This song comes from their third album, Seconds, which was produced by Scott Herren from Prefuse 73.
6.  Super Numeri - âWhen The Sun Dialsâ (2003)
Weirdo Liverpudlians making music that exists somewhere between Miles Davisâs 70â˛s jazz fusion experiments and krautrock. They put out a couple of albums on Ninja Tune and then disappeared, with main-man Pop Levi going to make some kind of annoying solo albums and play bass for Ladytron.
7.  Rosinha de Valença - âAsa Brancaâ (1971)
Just stumbled across this this past week. A Brazilian guitarist and composer from the 70â˛s. Donât know much else, but was captivated by the guitar playing here and the sort of surprise horns in the middle of the song.
8.  Brittany Howard - âHistory Repeatsâ (2019)
So, I donât know much about the Alabama Shakes, although I did like a few things I heard from their last album, Sound & Color, that made me think they are probably a much different band than I think they are. But singer Brittany Howard has been putting out a few singles in advance of a solo album coming out soon, and Iâve been really into them. This song in particular has a weirdo groove to it and doesnât really go anywhere in the best way possible.
9.  Dutch Uncles - âCombo Boxâ (2017)
Dutch Uncles are a Manchester band thatâs been one of my faves of the past few years. Their music is REALLY nerdy, which makes sense since itâs supposedly all composed by their bass player, a musical composition student, using computer musical notation software, which the band then learns how to translate to rock band instruments.
10.  Yellow Magic Orchestra - âTaisoâ (1981)
Legendary Japanese supergroup, composed of Yukihiro Takahashi, Haruomi Hosono, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. All three members were well-known in Japan before the band formed, although only Sakamoto is really well-known in the US due to his film-scoring work. They made eclectic synth-pop, always with an eye towards the pop world. This song comes from my favorite overall YMO album, Technodelic.
11.  Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - âPenthouse Serenadeâ (2002)
For a few years in the early 2000â˛s, French duo Alan Braxe & Fred Falke treated the world to several wonderful dance singles and several more top-tier remixes for other artists. And then there mustâve been some bad blood, cause it all just stopped. Unfortunately their true masterpiece, âRubicon,â is not on Spotify, but Iâd put this song up as one of the best of the rest. Before teaming with Falke, Braxe was briefly part of a group with Daft Punkâs Thomas Bangalter called Stardust.
12.  Lindstrøm & Christabelle - âBaby Canât Stopâ (2009)
I go back and forth on Swedish electronic music guru Hans-Peter Lindstrøm. But I love the album he made with Swedish vocalist Christabelle, Real Life Is No Cool. Unfortunately Christabelle has never shown up anywhere else.
13.  Alexander Robotnick - âCâest La Vie (7âł Version)â (1987)
Robotnick is an Italian dance-music producer whoâs been kicking around for almost four decades. I donât know much about him, and honestly donât remember how I stumbled upon this song, but I love it and now you are hearing it.
14.  Hintermass - âWhile Awayâ (2016)
Hintermass is a collaboration between Tim Felton (former guitar player for Broadcast and Seeland) and Jon Brooks, aka The Advisory Circle--one of Ghost Box Recordsâ primary artists. Their music is a winning combo of Feltonâs meditative, baritone pop songs and Brooksâs electronic production.
15.  Dennis Wilson - âTimeâ (1977)
Yes, that Dennis Wilson--Beach Boys Dennis Wilson. He made one really deep solo record in 1977, Pacific Ocean Blue. This emotional tune kicks off side two, showcasing Dennisâs ragged vocals over soft rock piano balladry, before kicking into something else entirely...
